Guide to Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation

• interconnecting SMEs through the Enterprise Europe Network and in particular via
brokerage events, platforms, survey mechanisms, Internal Market information etc
SME participation in the 7th Framework Programme for Research, Technological
Development and Demonstration Activities (FP7) has been strongly encouraged: Mainly
research performing SMEs are addressed in the 10 themes of the 'Cooperation' Programme
with a budgetary target of 15 % for SMEs, which equals some EUR 5 billion. SMEs and SME
associations in need of outsourcing research to research providers are supported through the
programme 'Research for the Benefit of SMEs' in the 'Capacities' strand with an overall
budget of EUR 1.3 billion. The Industry-academia partnerships in the 'People' Programme
promote cooperation between academia and industry, including SMEs, through staff
secondments and temporary hosting of experienced researchers.
The last calls for proposals under FP7 will be published in summer 2012. The forthcoming
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2013-2020) will have a
dedicated SME strategy covering the whole innovation cycle. It will address highly
innovative SMEs showing a strong ambition to develop, grow and internationalise, regardless
of whether they are high-tech and research-driven or non-research conducting, social or
service companies.
Regional organisations can boost the involvement of regional actors in FP7 and Horizon 2020
and enhance the impact of their participation through actions such as:
• awareness raising, information and advice to access FP7 and its successor,
• creation of sectoral or cross-sectoral interest groups,
• promotion of local academia – industry cooperation and their cross-border networking,
• aid for international partner search,
• grants for exploring project feasibility and validation of project ideas,
• provision of training to potential project managers,
• provision of mentoring and coaching to EU project partners (from the conception
phase through implementation and management to commercialisation of project
results) as part of the regional innovation support services,
• use of financial engineering instruments to promote commercialisation of promising
EU research and innovation results by regional actors,
• support to ERA-Nets51 involving regional partners can be an interesting learning tool
for them.
Useful links and further information
• Enterprise Europe Network 52
• Support services based on direct customized assistance:
o the IPR Helpdesk (provides information on intellectual property issues related
to FP7) 53
o the Business Innovation Centres (BIC) provide innovation related business
services on a commercial basis
51 http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp6/index_en.cfm?p=9_eranet
52 http://www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm
53 http://www.ipr-helpdesk.org/
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